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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm tired of NP being offered as a substitute for a MD. [/quote]

When it finally caused me problems due to the NP getting multiple things wrong, I left my pcp's practice for a concierge one. It was pretty clear that the practice was so busy I'd never see my actual doctor again except for my annual physical -- and that needed to be scheduled 6 months in advance. [/quote]

I don’t have one doctor who uses NP’s. [/quote]

You are fortunate then. All of the hospital-affiliated primary care practices have been using them for years, and the last several years it ahs become very hard to get in with the MD. In October my pcp's office told me the first available appointment with my doctor for an annual physical would be in April. Unless I wanted to see the NP, which could happen right away. Nope. For multiple reasons. [/quote]

Don’t put off care if you have serious concerns. The specialist NPs can be excellent. They perform routine exams and order tests and prescriptions. This gets the issue you’re having addressed. The MD, if you have one, will likely also review the results, and advise if anything needs to be further addressed prior to the appointment you scheduled (six months out).

By avoiding the NP, the clock won’t start on addressing your issue until the  the MD appointment. Also, in six months they might want to order a new set of tests to compare results—but they can’t make a comparison if they don’t have a baseline already available.

I agree it’s a very different approach, but in my experience it’s been more thorough and accurate, if more time-consuming (due to multiple appointments) and with a bit less hand-holding. [/quote]

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